Cable lashing machine



Aug. 23, 1949. D. J. NEALE CABLE LASHING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledNOV` 14, 1945 ATTORNEY.

D. J. NEALE 2,479,635

CABLE LASHING MACHINE Aug.. 23,194.9.

Filed Nov. 14, 1945 4 sheets-sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

my #QM ATTORNEYS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 14, 1945 INVENTOR wy @lwmf@ AI'TORN EYS Aug. 23, 1949. D. J. NEALE CABLE LSHING MACHINE 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 14, 1945 INVEN TOR. 2a/y J. A//

Patented Aug. 23, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT oEFlcE CABLE LASHING MACHINEDory J. Neale, Topeka, Kans. Application November i4, 1945, Serial No.628,450

12 Claims. 1

This invention relates to cable lashing machines such as used forspinning a lashing wire about an aerial cable and its supporting strandor messenger.

Machines of this character usually include a trolley adapted to be movedalong the messengerr provided for the spinning head on the trolley.`

Provision must also be made to drive the spinning head responsive tomovement of the trolley along the messenger. These requirements haveheretofore necessitated relatively complex driving structures involvingthe use of gates to permit removal of the lashing machine at thecompletion of a span at one side of a pole and rfa-application of themachine to the next span at the opposite side of the pole. Anotherdilculty is that the driving wheel may slip on the cable supportingstrand by reason of wet or greasy spots thereon so that proper tensionis not maintained on the lashing wire or strand.

Therefore, principal objects of the present invention are to provide acable lashing machine of simple, light weight construction and which isreadily removed and applied to a cable supporting strand in anexpeditious manner, and to provide a dual drive, one through traction onthe cable supporting strand and the other responsive to withdrawal ofthe lashing strand from the spinning head so that at least one of thedrives is always effective.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a cable lashing machinewith driving connections that simplify removal and application of themachine to a cable and supporting messenger; to provide the trolley andspinning head with registrable passageways or gaps through which thecable and supporting strand pass when removing and mounting the machine;to provide a locking mechanism for retaining the trolley and spinninghead with the passageways or gaps in registry; to provide an improveddriving mechanism that eliminates the necessity of connection anddisconnection with respect to the driving head; to provide a rollingsupport for the driving head which acts in conjunction with ment anddriving engagement of the driving head in all positions thereof;l toprovide the trolley with a traction wheel driven by traction with themessenger to operate the driving connection with the spinning head; toprovide readily adjustable means for maintaining desired tractionalcontact of the Wheel with the messenger; to provide the lashing machinewith means for collecting and supporting the rings by which the cable istemporarily carried from the messenger; and to provide an improvedtensioning mechanism for applying the desired amount of tension on thelashing wire as it is being laid around the cable and its supportingmessenger.

In accomplishing these and other objects of theA invention I haveprovided improved structure, the preferred form of which is illustratedin the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cable lashing machine constructed inaccordance with the present invention and showingithe machine in use forlashing a cable to a supporting strand.

Fig. 2 is a cross section through the machine, particularlyillustratingthe driving connection with the spinning head.

Fig. 3 is a detail section particularly illustrating mounting of thecable guiding roller.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through the machine and showing` themachine applied to the messenger which supports the cable.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the machine, partly in 'section and. partlybroken away to better illustrate the construction.

Fig. 6 is a, fragmentary sectional view particularly illustrating thelocking device between the spinning head and trolley. e

Fig. '7 is a ,perspective view'of the cable lashing machine particularlyillustrating the machine prepared for application to a messenger.

Fig. 8 is a detail sectionV through the latch for locking the singlegate used in the machine.

Fig. 9 is a section illustrating the ratchet mechanism for preventingretractive movement of the trolley on the messenger and for maintainingtension on the lashing Awire whenever forward movement of the trolley issuspended.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the tensioning levers for maintainingdesired tractional contact of the foremost trolley wheel with themessenger. l ,e

Referring more in detail to the drawings: I designates a cablelashingmachine embodying the features o theU present invention and 1 whichincludes a trolley 2 and a spinning head 3. the driving connection tomaintain Xed align- 55 The trolley 2 includes a" substantially tubularand I respectively (Fig. 4).

3 body 4 having a longitudinal slot or gap 5 in the underside thereof topermit mounting of the machine on a cable supporting strand as laterdescribed. The ends of the tubular body are provided with flanges 6 andI (Fig. 4) to which are bolted substantially disk-like heads 8 and 9.The heads 8 and 9 have slot-like openings or gaps I and II (Figs. 4 and7) registering with the longitudinal 'gap 5 of the tubular body 4. Thehead 9 has a track I2 extending therearound to cooperate with a trackmember I3 (Figs. 4 and that is interposed between the flanged end 6 ofthe tubular body 4 and the head 8. The surfaces I4 of the track arepreferably formed on an angle of substantially 45 relative to the axisof the tubular body. The heads, including the track'member I3, arebolted to the tubular body by suitable fastening devices such as boltsI5 Mounted on the rear face of the head 91s a wheel housingV I'Iincluding an upper fixed section I8 and a lower hinge section I9. Thepper section I8 has a radial flange 20 extending outwardly therefrom tosecure the section to the head 9 by means of fastening devices 2l thatpass through suitable openings in the flange and into threaded socketsof the head. The lower section conforms in shape to the upper sectionand has an ear 22 (Fig. 5) projecting from the flange 23 (Fig. rI)thereof which forms a continuation of the flange 20. The hinge sectionis secured to the head 9 by a fastening device such as a cap screw 24(Fig. 5) that extends through an opening in the ear and into a threadedopening of the flange of the head. The opposite end of the flange 23engages in a keeper 25 (Fig. 5) that is offset laterally from theadjacent face of the head 9 to support the sections in registry. Theannular wall of the sections curves' inwardly as at 26 to encircle acircular opening 2'I that registers with the passageway 28 through thetubular body (Fig. 4). The hinge section carries a block 29 (Figs. 4 and'7) that is-'fixed to an inwardly extending lug 30 of the section andwhich engages in and 'closes the notchelike opening or gap II of thehead 9 vand provides a continuation of the track I2. The hinge sectionI9 is adapted to be latched 'in closed position relative to the iixedsection of the housing by a slide bolt 3I reciprocable in a bore 32 o'ithe block 29 and e'nl.

gageable in a registering bore 33 formed in the head 9, thebolt beingnormally` projected by a spring 34 (Fig/8) seated in the bottom of thebore 32 and engaging the end of the bolt 3fI. The bolt is moved toretracted position against action of the spring 34 bymeans of a lateralpin 35 which projects through a slot 36 in the block 29 as shown in Fig.`4.Y Y

Extending inwardlyfrom the upper section of the housing are spaced lugs3'I and 38 vmounting the ends of a cross pin 39 which journals a wheel40. The wheel 40 has 'a grooved periphery 4I conforming` to the contour0f a cable supporting strand o'r messenger and on which the wheel is y'adapted torou "for supporting that end of the trolley. Co-op'eratingwith 'the wheel 40 is a roller 42 that is journalled on a lcross pin 43carried by spaced arms 44 and 45, which arms are pivoted on a cross pin46 (Fig. '4) carried by the lug 3D previously described. Thearms `44 andare adapted lto ybe 'moved toward the wheel 40 to engage the undersideof a cable supported by the I'l'ss'e'g'ei. This hlOv'ement is 'effectedby means of set screws 41 threaded angularly through openings passingthrough the hinged section I9 of the housing and through internal lugs48 to engage the undersides of the arms 44 and 45 as shown in Figs. 4and 7. rIhe rear end of the trolley is guided laterally with respect tothe messenger by laterally spaced vertically disposed rollers 49 and 50that are carried on arms 5I and 52 pivotally mounted within the upperhousing section on cap screws 53 (Fig. 5) which are secured to the lugs3'I and 38. The arms are retained against adjusting screws 54 and 55 bycoil springs 58 and 5l. It is thus obvious that through manipulation ofthe adjusting screws, the rollers are moved toward and from the axialcenter of the housing.

Mounted on the head 8 is a forwardly extending hood-like housing 58having side walls 59 and 60 located on the respective sides of the gap Iand a top 6I. The hood-like housing is preferably formed of two sectionssecured together by fastening devices such as bolts 62 extending throughabutting flanges 63 on the respective sections. The rear of the sidewalls have laterally extending flanges 64 through which cap screws 65are extended for attachment of the housing (Fig. 5).

Rotatably mounted within bearings 61 and 98 that project outwardly fromthe side Walls of the housing is a shaft 69 and xed thereto within thehousing is a wheel 'I9 having a resilient section Il that is providedwith a grooved periphery 'l2 for mounting the forward end of the trolleyon the messenger. The shaft 69 is connected by a flexible coupling 'i3with a spining head driving mechanism I4 later described. Traction ismaintained between the wheel I9 and messenger by a tensioning roller 'I5that is rotatably mounted on a shaft 'I9 having one end pivotallyconnected to an arm TI by a hinge joint i8. The opposite end of theshaft is adapted for support within the fork end 'I9 of an arm 80 andwhich is secured therein by a knurled nut 8l threadingly mounted on theend of the shaft as shown in Figs. 2 and lil. The arms TI and 89 arelocated on the respective sides of the wheel 'I0 and have bearingportions B2 and 83 carried on the shaft 99. The arms are connectedtogether by a cross member 94 to which is secured an eye that is locatedin front of the wheel 19, Engaged with the eye is a hooked end 89 (Fig.4) of a threaded rod 81 which extends upwardly through an opening 89 ofthe hook-'like housing and carries a coil spring S9 that is sleevedthereover and which is tensioned by a knurled nut 99 threaded on theprojecting end ofthe rod. It vis thus obvious that by rotating the nutand compressing the spring, any desired tension may be effected on themessenger between the roller 'I5 and the wheel l for a purpose laterdescribed.,

The cable, 'later described, is guided for entrance into the tubularbody of the trolley by means of a spool-like rollel` 9I rotatablymounted on a cross shaft 92 having one end hingingly connected as at 93with a swivel head 94 on a post 95 (Fig. 3). The post 95 is located onone side of the gap i9 of the head 8 and has a reduced threaded shank 96threaded into a socket 91 of the head. The opposite end of the shaft isreceived in a slotted end 98 of a post 99 similarly anchored in the head8 at the opposite side of the opening.

VrIhe latter end of the shaft mounts a thumb nut IUD which is adapted'to be threaded against the notched end of the post to preventdisplacement ofthe roller when the roller is in position to guide thecable.

The cable spinning head includes a tubular body of larger diameter thanthe tubular body of the trolley `and is coaxially mounted therewith bymeans of rollers |02 and |03 that are journalled on anges |04 and |05located at the respective ends of the tubular body (Fig. 5), the rollersbeing secured to the flanges by eccentric bushings |06 mounted on capscrews |01. The faces of the rollers engage the faces of the trackspreviously described. Attention is directed to the fact that there is asufficient number of rollers located in circular series about each endof the tubular body to support the tubular body of the spinning head incoaxial relation with the tubular body of the trolley and wherebysufficient rollers are at all times engaged with the tracks to maintaincoaxial alignment while other of the rollers are moving across the gapin the track member I3 at the forward end of the trolley. Since the gapat the rear end of the trolley is closed by the block 25, the rollers|03 for that end may be differentially spaced if desired. When play mayoccur between the faces of the rollers and the faces of the tracks, itmay be taken up by adjustment ofthe eccentric bushings |06 on the capscrews |01.

Spaced inwardly from the ends of the tubular body of the spinning headare flanges 09 and I0 :which have gaps formed therein in registry withthe slot-like opening of the tubular body of the spinning head. Thespace between the tubular body of the spinning head and the outercircumference of the flanges |09 is closed by side walls i|| and ||2(Figs. 4 and 7). The outer peripheries of the flanges carry a cover 0rshield ||3 that is secured thereto by fastening devices ||4 to providean enclosure for the spinning body, supporting wheels at the rear end ofthe trolley as well as to enclose a lock and a driven wire tension wheellater described.

The spinning head is adapted to be rotated about the axis of the tubularbody of the trolley under dual drives, one of which is effected byfrictional contact of the wheel 10 with the messenger when the lashingmachine is in use. This is accomplished by providing the tubular body ofthe spinning head at a point adjacent the flange |09 with a sprocketsegment ||5 having ends H6 and ||1 terminating on the respective sidesof the gaps formed in the tubular bodies 4 and lill. Operating over thesegmental sprocket is a chain ||6 carried by idler sprockets ||9 and|20, the idler sprockets being located so that a run |2| of the chain isat all times in engagement with a sufficient number of teeth of thesprocket to effect a drive therewith even when the gap between the ends||6 and ||1 is passing the space between the sprockets ||9 and |20. Thechain also operates over a driving sprocket |22 as shown in Fig. 2. Thechain and sprockets are mounted within a housing extension |23 that iscarried on an annular flange |24 encircling the head 6 but whichterminates at the sides of the head so as to avoid blocking of thepassageway to the gaps formed in the tubular body of the trolley.

The annular flange |24 is of sufficient Width so that it bridges theseries of supporting rollers E02 at the forward end of the trolley andforms an enclosure therefore; however, the flange terminates short ofthe flange |09 of the opening head to accommodate the housing extensionwhich has spaced side walls |25 and |26 (Fig. 4) and a connecting Wall|21, the walls being shaped to adequately enclose the chain andsprockets Vand to include the space between the flanges |09 and |24 asshown in Figs. 2" and 4. The idle sprockets are mounted on the side wall|25 by fastening devices |29 and |30 as shown in Fig. 2'. The drivingsprocket |22 is fixed to a shaft |3| extending through a bushing |32 inthe side wall |25 through a bore |33 in a bracket |34 through a bushing|35 that is carried by a bracket |36 secured to the bracket |34 byfastening devices such as cap screws |31 (see Fig. 5). The forward endof the shaft carries a pinion gear |38 that meshes with a bevel gear |39fixed to a shaft |40 that is connected through the flexible joint 13with the shaft 69. The gears thus described are enclosed within a gearhousing |4| formed as part of the bracket |36 as shown in Fig. 5.

It is obvious that upon rotation of the foremost wheel 10 of thetrolley, the shaft 69 is rotated to actuate the gears |36 and |30, theshaft |3| and the sprocket chain ||8 to effect rotation of the spinninghead when the lashing machine is moved in one direction.

Formed within the cover I3 at one side thereof is a recess |62 extendingto the tubular body of the spinning head and of a size to accommodate acoil of lashing wire |43 on a spool |44. The spool 44 includes a disk|45 having a hub |46 journalled on a pin |41 that is fixed by a bracket|46 to the tubular body of the spinning head. The outer end of the hub|46 is reduced in diameter and exteriorly threaded to mount a plate |48that cooperates with the plate |45 to retain the coil of wiretherebetween. The hub is retained on 'the pin by a collar |49 sleeved ona projecting end of the pin and retained by a cotter pin |50 thatextends through an opening in the collar and through a registeringopening in the end of the coil supporting pin |41.

Also located on the spinning head at a side of the coil of wire, is anidle pulley |5| that is provided with a groove |52 through which thelashing wire is extended in guiding relation to a spinning wheel |53.The wheel |5| is mounted for idle movement on a cap screw |54 projectingfrom the spinning head. The spinning wheel |53 is adjustably supportedfrom the tubular body of the spinning head by a bracket |55 havinglaterally spaced arms |56 slidable within bores of a block |58 that issecured to the tubular body by fastening devices such as cap screws |59as shown in Fig. 4. Positioned on the bracket is a tubular spindle |6|that extends laterally therefrom through a notch-like opening |62 in theshield H3, the opening being of suitable size t0 accommodate thespinning wheel |53. Sleeved on the tube is a spacing washer |63 and awheel |64 that is connected with a hub |65 of the spinning wheel. Thewheel |64 is preferably formed of two parts |66 and |61, the part |61being formed as an integral part of the hub |65 of the spinning wheeland the part |66 being clamped thereagainst by fastening devices such asscrews |68. The peripheries of the wheel sections are grooved to mount atire |69 which is adapted to frictionally engage the inner face of thehead 9 so that a supplementary drive is provided for rotating thespinning head incidental to pay of the lashing wire from the spinningwheel as later described. VThe tubular spindle is retained in positionon the bracket by a fastening device such as a bolt |13 having its shank|14 extending through a retaining washer |15 seated'within a counterboreof the spinning wheel and through the tubular spindle into a threadedsocket of the supporting bracket.

In order to prevent retractive movement of the agresse;

trolley. and ftoY maintain tension on the lashing wire, as laterdescribed, the shaft 99 is provided at a point within the hood-likehousing with a ratchet wheel |11 adapted to be engaged by a pawl |18best shown in Fig. 9 which isv xed to theshaft 69 by a pin |19. The pawlis mounted on a pin |30 carried. by a side wall of the hoodlike housing.The pawl has a tail portion |8| to be engaged by a cam |82 on a shaftlever |83 GFig. The tail of the pawl is lretained in contact with thecam' by a coil spring |84 having one end'flxed to the tail portion ofthe pawl and its other end secured to a pin projecting inwardly ofthehcod-like housing as best shown in Fig. 5.

To facilitate placement of the machine, it is desirable to lock thespinning mechanism relative to the trolley so that the gaps of thetubular bodies are in registry. This is effected as shown in Fig. 6 by arod |35 slidable in an opening |86 inthe flange H9 and in a tubularsocket |81 projecting laterally from the flange |09. Fixed on the rod isa collar |93 for seating a spring |89 that is coiled about the rod andhas its opposite end seated against the flange ||0 to normally eiectretraction of the free end |90 from engagement with an opening 19| inthe head 9. The rod is selectively move-d into engagement with theopening by a lever |92 that projects through a bayonet slot |93 in theshield I3. The

end of the lever carries a knob |90 by which it Y may be moved to shiftthe rod. When the arm |92- is in the portion |95 of the bayonet slotwhich extends in a circumferential direction, the end of the rod isretained in the opening |9| in opposition to action of the spring |89and when' the arm is in the longitudinal portion |99 of the slot, therod is retracted by the spring |89.

To facilitate movement of the rod, the tubular socket |8'ti has abayonet slot |91 corresponding to the bayonet slot just described forguiding Va pin |99'carried by the rod as shown in Fig. 6.

In order to eifect movement of the machine along a cable supportingstrand, the forward end thereof is provided with rings |99 and '209located on the respective side of the opening and which are adapted tobe engaged by snaps 2 0! and 202 fixed to branches 204 and 205 of a rope206.

Aerial cables 201 are usually temporarily supported by rings 299 fromthe messenger 209 and to gather up these rings progressively with thespinning, the arms 11 and 80 previously described have tubular guides2|0 and 2|| (Fig. 7) welded thereto for receiving the Shanks 2|2and 2|'3of fingers 2id and 2|5 to ride on the respective sides of the messengerand engage in the rings 209 to effect collection thereof as shown inFig. 1.

ported from the strand 209 by the rings or the equivalent 298, thestrand being supported on poles (not shown). The machine is applied to'the strand adjacent the end of a span. This is effected by bringing theslot-like gap of the spin- -ning head into registry with the slot-likegaps -of the tubular body of the ytrolley and locking the parts in thisposition by means of the rod |85. To

shift the rod. the arm |92 is adjusted in the bayonet slot '|93 so thatit enters the portion |95 :thereof whereupon the rod is locked againstretractive movement by the spring |89. The housl fingzsection |9- isthen swung tofopen position by ILO.

releasing the latch 3|.. The cable. guiding spool or= roller 9| isswungout of position in registry with the'slot-like gap l0. This iseffected by loosening `the thumb nut |00 until it clears the slotted endofthe post |99. Then, the spool may be swung outwardly and turned on theswivel joint so. that it isout ofposition as shown in Fig. 7. Thetension roller 15 is similarly loosened and moved from in front'of thetraction wheel. The machine is then ready to be applied to the cablesupporting strand.

To apply the machine, it is supported so that it is passed over thestrand with the strand en= tering the tubular body through the slot-likegaps. The traction wheels 10 and 40 then upport the machine upon thecable carrying strand. The hinge section |9 is then closed and latchedand the tension roller 15 is moved to a position under the cablesupporting strand 209 as shown in Fig. 4. After securing the tensionroller by retightening the thumb nut 8|, the cable guiding spool 9| issimilarly moved into position so that it is supported transverselydirectly below the cable 201. The pawl |18 will then be engaged with theratchet wheel |11. The end of the spinning wire is loosened from thecoil, passed into the groove of the pulley |9| and wrapped about thespinning wheel |53. The end is then anchored by a suitable clamp to theadjacent pole that carries the cable supporting strand. The rope 206 isattached to the machine by connecting the snaps 20| and 202 with therings |99 and 200. The thumb nut 90 on the threaded rod 91 is turned toadjust tension of the roller 15 on the strand 209. The guide rollers 49,59 and l2 may then be adjusted by means of the set screws 40, 41, 54and`55. The locking device is then disengaged by shifting the arm |92out of the elongated portion of the bayonet slot and into the lateralportion thereof to effect and retain disengagement of the locking rodfrom contact with the head 9 of the trolley. The spinning head is thenfree to revolve about the body of the trolley.

When draft power is applied to the rope 206 the machine is drawn alongthe cable supporting strand. Traction of the wheel 1| with thestrandcauses rotation of the shaft 69, gears |39 and |38 to rotate the shaft|35, sprocket |22 and endless chain ||8. Engagement of the chain withthe teeth oi the ring member ||75 eiects rotation of the spinning headabout the axis of the trolley. Since the driving chain is in contactwith a greater extent of teeth than the spacing between the ends I9 andl |1 of the sprocket member, rotation of the spinning head iscontinuous. Rotation of the spinning head carries the coil of spinningwire about the aerial cable and its supporting strand so that thelashing wire |42 is laid in a series of spirals to closely bind theaerial cable to the messenger as shown at the right of Fig. l.

Since the lashing wire |42 has been wrapped about the spinning wheel,pay of the lashing wire rotates the spinning wheel |53 and since thespinning wheel is connected with the friction wheel |69 and the frictionwheel rolls on the head 9 of the trolley, a supplementary driving forceis effective whereby to rotate the spinning head. Thus, as above pointedout, I have provided a primary and supplementary drive so that shouldthe traction wheel 10 engage wet or greasy spots in the Ycable and tendto slip the driving force is maintained through the friction wheel |69with the result that a constant and substantially uniform tensionismaintained on the lashing wire.

TheV driving ratio effected between the primary and supplementary drivesis such that when the machine is used on a medium sized cable thedriving forces are substantially equal in effect; however, when themachine is used on smaller or larger cables, there is some differentialbetween the drives and it is desirable that one of the drives beadjusted. This may be readily effected by ad.- justing the thumb nut 90to vary the spring action on the roller 16 which regulates the tractionof the driving wheel 'lil so that any differential between the drivesmay be compensated for.

Attention is directed to the fact that the block 29 closes the gap inthe head and track for the Wheel |69, when the lower section of thewheel housing is closed, thus providing a continuous track so that thedriving force of the spinning wheel is continuous.

As the machine is moved progressively along the cable carrying strand,the fingers 2 I4 and 2|5 engage the temporary supporting rings andcollect them thereon as shown in Fig. 1.

When the machine has reached the end of the span, the lashing strand issecured to the adjacent pole after which the slot-like gap of thespinning head is moved into registry with the slot-like gap of thetubular body of the trolley. The hinge section of the wheel housing isthen opened and the tension roller 'l5 and cable guiding roller 9| aremoved out of position so that the entire machine may be lifted from themessenger and re-applied on the opposite side of the pole. The machineis then re-adjusted on that side of the pole as above described and theoperation is continued to complete lashing of the aerial cable to itssupporting strand.

From the foregoing it is obvious that I have provided a cable lashingma-chine of simple construction wherein the spinning head is drivenWithout the use of a gate in the driving connections and at the sametime the spinning head is maintained in concentric registry with thetubular body of the trolley. It is also obvious that with the primaryand supplementary drives at least one of them is effective at all timesto maintain uniform tension on the lashing wire and therefore thespirals are of substantially uniform length.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A lashing machine of the character described including, a trolleyadapted to move along a cable supporting strand, spaced annular trackson the trolley having gaps to apply the trolley to said strand, aspinning head having a gap adapted to register with the gaps of theannular tracks, a sprocket circling the spinning head and having a gapregistering with the gap of the spinning head, track engaging rollers onthe spinning head, said rollers being of a number and spaced to supportthe spinning head coaxially of the tracks for revolution about thetrolley, an endless chain, sprockets spa-ced apart on the trolley adistance greater than the width of the gaps for retaining a run of saidchain in contact with the sprocket, and means for driving said chain torotate the spinning head on the trolley.

2. A lashing machine of the character described including, a wheelsupported trolley adapted to move along a cable supporting strand,spaced annular tracks on the trolley having gaps to apply the trolley tosaid strand, a spinning head having a gap adapted to register with thegaps of said tracks, track engaging means on the spinning head tosupport the spinning head for revolution about the trolley, teetharranged circumferentially on the spinning head, a flexible drivingconnection having contact with said teeth for a distance greater thanthe width of said gaps, and means connecting a wheel of the trolley withsaid flexible driving connection.

3. A lashing machine of the character described including, a trolleyhaving a friction wheel adapted to move along a cable supporting strand,spaced annular tracks on the trolley having gaps to apply the trolley tosaid strand, a spinning head having a gap adapted to register with thegaps of said tracks, track engaging means on the spinning head tosupport the spinning head for revolution about the trolley, teetharranged circumferentially on the spinning head and terminating inregistry with the gaps of said tracks, a iiexible driving means havingcontact with said teeth for a distance greater than the width of saidgaps, and means connecting the friction wheel of the trolley with saidexible driving means.

4. A device of the character described including, a trolley, wheels onthe trolley adapted to move along the cable supporting strand, annulartracks on the trolley having gaps to apply the trolley to said strand, aspinning head having a gap adapted to be registered with the gaps ofsaid tracks, sprocket teeth arranged circumferentially on the head andterminating in registry with said gap of the head, an endless chain,means supporting said chain on the trolley with a run of said chain inengagement with said sprocket teeth including a driving sprocket forsaid chain, and a driving connection between a wheel of said trolley andthe driving sprocket for eiecting revolution of the spinning head onsaid tracks incidental to movement of the trolley along said strand whenthe device is in use.

5. A lashing machine of the character described including, a trolleyhaving a friction wheel adapted to move along a cable supporting strand,spaced annular tracks on the trolley having gaps to apply the trolley tosaid strand, a spinning head having a gap adapted to register with thegaps of said tracks, track engaging means on the spinning head tosupport the spinning head for revolution about the trolley, teetharranged circumferentially on the spinning head and terminating inregistry with the gaps of said tracks, drivingmeans having contact withsaid teeth for a distance greater than the width of said gaps, meansconnecting the friction wheel of the trolley with said driving means,and tension means cooperating with the friction wheel for gripping thecable supporting strand when the machine is in use.

6. A device of the character described including, a trolley, a frictionwheel on the trolley adapted to move along the cable supporting strand,spaced annular tracks on the trolley having gaps to apply the trolley tosaid strand, a spinning head having a gap adapted to register with thegaps of said tracks, sprocket teeth arranged circumferentially on thehead and terminating in registry with said gap of the head, an endlesschain engaging the sprocket teeth, means supporting said chain on thetrolley including a driver for said chain, a driving connection betweensaid friction wheel and the driver for effecting revolution of thespinning head on said tracks incidental to movement of the trolley alongsaid strand when the device is in use, and tension means cooperatingwith '111 the friction Vwheel fer gripping the cable .sup-V portingstrand when fthe device is sinuse.

7. A device of the -character described include ing -a trolley, wheels:adapted vfor :supporting the respectiveV ends of the tro'lley fforAmovement 'along a cable supportings'trand, housings enclosing as'aidwheels, spaced tracks' on 'the :trolley .having gaps to apply thetrolley to said strandaspinning head having va gap adapted toregisterwith the Agaps vof said tracks, one :of :said 'housings including apivoted section, means'en the pivoted vsection #for closing the gapinone of said tracks, rollers lon the spinning headengaginfgthe tracks,asprocket yconcentric with `the spinning fheadeadja'cent the other track:and `l'iavin'g a gap registering with .the gap of said track, anendless 'chain engaging the sprocket for a ldistancefgreater than theAwidth'of said gap in .the sprocket, 'anda :drivingfconnection betweenthe wheel in the other of v'said housings 'and the endless -zchainz a 8.`A device .of thecharacter described including a trolley, a tractionwheel on the Vtrolley adapted to move along' the cable *supportingstrand, `spaced 'tra-oksfon the :trolley having gaps to apply thetrolley to said strand, :a spinning head having a gap adapted toregister with the gaps of said tracks,'-sprocket 'teeth arrangedcircumferential-1y :on `the Ahead :and terminating in .registrywith-said gap of -thje head, an end-less chain engaging the sprocketteeth, means supporting said chain onithe trolleyincludingadriver Yforvsaid chain, `a Vdriving connection between 'said traction Wheel and theVdriver'tor-effectingrevoluf tion Yof thespinning 'head on said tracks.incidental to Ymovement of the trolley along said strand when thedevice is' in use; and gneans @for selectively preventing retraoti-vemovement o f the trolley.

9. A device of the character described including a trolley, a tractionwheel on the trolley 4adapted to u'move along the cable supportingstrand, tracks on the trolley havingfgaps to apply the `trolleytosaidstrand, a spinning head having a gap adapted to .register with ythe gaps of said tracks, sprocket teeth arranged circurnferentially onthe head `and terminating in `registry with said gap of `the head, anendless ,cha-in engaging the sprocket teeth, sprockets supporting saidchain on the trolley .including .a `dri-ving sprocket for .said=chain,ar-dr-iving .connection between said traction Wheel'and the driver foreffecting revolution of the spinning headonsaidtraicks incidental tomovement of the trolleyalong saidstrandwhen the device is in use and .aratchet and Ypawl mechanism connected with theY driving connection toprevent retractive movementl of the traction wheel.

10. A device of the character described including a trolley having vatubular bpdy provided with a slot-like gap 'to permit mounting of thetrolley on an aerial cable supportingjstrand, heads at Vthe ends o'fVthe tubular body and having notches registering with s aid slot-likegap, trace tion wheels on the trolley adapted to move `along saidstrand, tracks Ton the trolley `having ends tenrninating' at the sides:olf the slot, a spinning head having 'a slot-dike :gap .adapted toregister with the slot-.like gap tof said tubular body, sprocket teetharranged lcircumferentially on the spinning head 'and terminating inregistry with said slot-like gap of .the head, an endless chain engaging:the 'sprocket teeth, means supporting said chain on the trolley offsetat .one side of the gap with a run of fsa'i'd chain in .contact with thesprocket teeth 'a .distance substantially greater than the width tof thegap including .a driver for said chain, a driving connection. between`one of v'said 'traction wheels andthe 'driver for effecting revolutionof theY spinning head on said tracks .incidental to movementiof thetrolley along said strand when the device is in use, a gate having'means for closing rthe notch of one of said heads and provide'acontinuous Vcircumferential face on said head, a spinning wheel, and afriction wheel having connection with the spinning wheel and rollingIcontact' with sa'id face for suppleinenting .the chain drive of thespinning head.

1'1. A lashing machine orf the character described includin'g' a trolleyhaving 'a traction wheel adapted to move along the cable supportingstrand, a spinning head, means supporting the spinning .head forrevolution about the trolley, a ydriving connection between the spinning.head and traction wheel of the' trolley, a roller .carried .on thetrolley 'at aside of :the strand opposite Asaid traction Wheel, .and4tensioning means von the 'trolley and connected with said roller for'drawing the roller toward the traction Wheel to maintain 'said wheelinlcontact-with the strand.

'12. A lashing Vvmachine 'of' the ,character described including Vatrolley having a'groov'ed wheel adapted lto move along'a cablesupporting strand, a roller extending' transversely below said wheel forsupporting a cable substantially in vcontact with the cable supportingstrand, adjustable supporting means 'for tsaid roller efor mounting the`roller on the trolley for adjustment relative to the wheel, rollersdisposed on opposite sides of said Wheel and cooperating with thetransverse roller in Vsupporting the cable in alignment with saidsupporting strand, and yieldable means for urging said vlast-named.rollers into rolling contact with the cable.

' 'DGRY J. NEALE.

REFERENCES CITED The followingreferences are of record in the le of thispatent:

UNIT-ED STATES :PATENTS Number Name Y Date '2,231,962 St. John Le Feb.18, 1941 2,272,253 st. John Feb. 10, 1942 '2,295,749 Neale Sept. 15,1942 2,300,035 Neale Oct. 27, 1942 2,332,112 Pritchard Oct. 19, 19432,344,051 Neale Mar. 14, 1944

